walk, run & festival

In the 34 years since it began, our flagship charity event has helped raise millions of dollars towards better understanding of and treatments of mental illnesses like depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, postpartum depression, schizophrenia and anorexia.

Each year, thousands of participants come together at the Angus Barn in Raleigh to walk or run a 5K route to show solidarity for family, friends and community members living with a mental illness. After the walk is over, we celebrate our achievement with a family-friendly afternoon of food, games, music and prizes.

Can’t make it this year, or prefer to walk or run with us from afar? You can still make an impact by joining us VIRTUALLY instead or making a DONATION! It’s more important than ever to support mental illness research right here in the Triangle.

100% of the money raised by participants directly funds local mental illness research at the UNC-Chapel Hill Department of Psychiatry. And, just as critically, it helps call attention to the stigma and significance of these often invisible illnesses, which now due to the pandemic affect as many as one in three American adults.

Your passion helps us touch more and more lives in our community, across our nation, and around the world. Your dedication leads us to record-breaking goals in numbers and funds raised. We believe research is hope, and hope keeps us moving forward.

Learn more about the annual event here >